Nenad Bjelica signed a contract to manage Turkish club Samsunspor through the end of the 2026-27 season, taking over a squad currently sitting in the penultimate position of the Turkish championship. The appointment marks Bjelica’s return to Turkish football following a previous stint with Trabzonspor in 2023, according to reports published by regional media outlets including Gol.hr and Index.hr.
Samsunspor Turns to Croatian Manager After Five-Match Losing Streak
The club moved to secure Bjelica after dismissing Thorsten Fink. Fink exited following a start to the domestic campaign that saw Samsunspor collect just four points in seven kola, leaving the team in 19th place—second from the bottom in the Süper Lig table. Before settling on the 55-year-old Croatian, Samsunspor president Yüksel Yıldırım interviewed two other candidates: Steffen Baumgart and Valerien Ismael.
Dobrodošao, Nenad!Kulübümüz, teknik direktörlük görevi için Nenad Bjelica ile 2026-27 sezonu sonuna kadar sözleşme imzalamıştır.Teknik direktörlük kariyeri boyunca FK Austria Wien, Spezia Calcio, KKS Lech Poznań, GNK Dinamo Zagreb, Trabzonspor, 1. FC Union Berlin gibi… pic.twitter.com/e5PAacXA6G
Fabrizio Romano reported that Bjelica’s agreement includes an option to extend the contract for an additional season. Bjelica and his coaching staff traveled to Samsun via private jet immediately following the announcement to begin preparations with the squad.
Sporting Director Cites Long-Term Strategy and Detailed Squad Analysis
Fuat Çapa, the sporting director at Samsunspor, explained that the decision to hire Bjelica aligns with a broader institutional plan centered on youth development and sustainable squad growth. Çapa noted that the club evaluates managerial candidates beyond simple points-per-game averages, emphasizing a coach’s ability to build club value and improve individual players.
According to club officials, Bjelica distinguished himself during the interview process by presenting a thorough, pre-appointment tactical analysis of the Samsunspor roster.
Bjelica Highlights Passion for Turkish Football and Youth Development
In his first remarks following the appointment, Bjelica expressed enthusiasm for returning to the country’s top flight. “I love Turkey, the Turkish people, and Turkish football,” Bjelica said. “The passion this country has for the game has always been something special to me. When I received the offer from Samsunspor, I accepted it without hesitation.”
Bjelica emphasized that his primary objectives include restoring player confidence and implementing rigorous daily training standards. “Our primary goal is to instill confidence in the players, contribute to their individual development, and improve the team’s performance daily,” Bjelica stated. “For that, we need discipline, determination, and hard work.”
The coach has been out of work since late 2024, when he departed Dinamo Zagreb following a three-month tenure. His managerial resume includes stops at FK Austria Wien, Spezia Calcio, KKS Lech Poznań, GNK Dinamo Zagreb, Trabzonspor, 1. FC Union Berlin, alongside his most successful period during his first term at Dinamo Zagreb between 2018 and 2020.
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